Russian President Vladimir Putin has instructed the Federal Security Service (FSB) of the Russian Federation to prevent outside interference with the State Duma elections.  He also instructed them to stop nationalist activity.

According to RIA Novosti, he said this on Friday during a meeting with the board of the FSB.

“We need to stop any attempts to interfere with the elections, and our internal political life.  You know that technologies for such purposes exist and that they have been used …

On February 26, 2016 in Schastie, Luhansk region, an exchange of prisoners took place between Ukrainian and representatives of the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic.  At the boundary line, Ukraine handed over six people. So-called LPR representatives, in turn, released three Ukrainians. Leonid Mazanko, Vitaly Chuprinin and Rostislav Mavrin all gained their freedom and returned to the territory under Ukraine’s control. 

Passing the Ukrainian boundary roadblock, the representatives of the …

In an interview with Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Ukrainian Prime Minister Aresniy Yatsenyuk stated if President Petro Poroshenko is dissatisfied with the current cabinet, he should form a new government.

“If he is no longer satisfied with my work, he will need to form a new government,” Yatsenyuk said referring to Poroshenko.  He also noted that forming a new cabinet may lead to early elections.

“I have never criticized the President’s party.  For me, it is more important to preserve our …

Ukrainian border guards have recorded activity of four Russian Mi-8 helicopters near the administrative border with Crimea.  This was mentioned on the website of Ukrainian authorities.

“Border guards of the Genichesk unit of the Berdyansk squad have recorded Russian aircraft flying near the administrative border of Crimea.  There were four Mi-8 helicopters flying near the border’s vicinity,” the statement said.

In November of last year, the Ukrainian government decided to prohibit Russian …

The situation in the Donbas region remains tense, as both the Ukrainian Armed Forces and pro-Russian separatists blame each other for violating the ceasefire on February 27th. The Ukrainian Armed Forces Press Center reported that attacks by pro-Russian separatists increased after nightfall.  In the Donetsk region, Ukrainian positions came under fire from small arms, heavy machine guns, and grenade launchers near the towns of Zaitsevo, Novgorodskoye, and Luganskoye, the statement said. …

According to economists polled by Bloomberg, the probability that Russia’s current economic situation will lead to large-scale protests is about 30%. As reported by RBC, Bloomberg surveyed 27 experts, only six of whom believed that there is 50% chance or more that Russia’s economic problems will lead to upheaval.

According to the head of a study group on emerging economies at the Toronto Dominion Bank, Christian Maggio, the probability of large-scale protests “is more limited than last time [ …

Angela Merkel emphasized that sanctions may be lifted only after the Minsk Agreements have been fully implemented. German Chancellor Angela Merkel urged businesses to demonstrate patience towards the lifting of sanctions against Russia. On February 23rd, speaking at the annual Economic Council of the Christian Democratic Union in Stralsund, Merkel acknowledged that business, to a certain extent, has been adversely affected by sanctions. The Chancellor emphasized that they may be lifted only …

According to a public opinion poll conducted by the Russian Public Opinion Research Center, 96% of Russian citizens do not want a repeat of the Euromaidan revolution in their country, as reported by korrespondent.net.

Last year, the number of Russians who had a positive view of Ukraine decreased from 60% to 50%.  Currently, 36% of the respondents have a negative perception of Ukraine.

The survey also revealed that 34% of Russians believed that the Euromaidan resulted in anarchy and …